JP2019081284A - Ink jet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an ink jet printer that is able to reduce deterioration of a repellent ink film of a nozzle surface of an ink jet head.SOLUTION: An ink jet printer comprises: an ink jet head 66 having a plurality of nozzles 72 for ejecting ink, also having a nozzle surface 66a in which the nozzles 72 are open and on which a repellent ink film is formed, and installed such that the nozzle surface 66a is inclined to a horizontal surface; an ink circulation mechanism unit that undergoes purging such that the ink is ejected from the nozzles 72 of the ink jet head 66, to attach the ink to the nozzle surface 66a; and a wiper 82 that wipes the nozzle surface 66a to which the ink ejected from the nozzle 72 due to purging has been sticking is wiped in a wiping direction orthogonal to an inclining direction of the nozzle surface 66. The wiper 82 inclines downstream in a wiping direction as the nozzle surface 66a inclines downward. The wiper wipes the nozzle surface 66a while pushing up from a lower side to an upper side in the inclining direction of the nozzle surface 66a, the ink sticking to the nozzle surface 66a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

  The present invention relates to an inkjet printing apparatus that performs printing by ejecting ink from an inkjet head to a print medium.

  In the inkjet printing apparatus, maintenance of the inkjet head is performed in order to reduce the ejection failure of the ink from the inkjet head.

  As one of maintenance operations for an inkjet head, a series of operations of wiping the nozzle surface with a wiper after performing so-called purge which pushes out the ink from the nozzles of the inkjet head is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). As a result, dust and the like on the nozzle surface are removed by the wiper together with the ink discharged from the nozzle by the purge and adhering to the nozzle surface.

JP, 2011-68092, A

  By the way, as an ink jet printing apparatus, there is one which performs printing by discharging ink onto the web from the ink jet head while conveying a long web continuously. Further, among such ink jet printing apparatuses, there is one in which the web is conveyed along a plurality of arched support members in a portion where the web passes under the ink jet head of each color. In this way, tension can be applied to the web under the head to stabilize the attitude of the web.

  In the ink jet printing apparatus as described above, the plurality of support members are arranged in an arch shape, so that there is a portion where the web is inclined to the horizontal surface between the adjacent support members. Since the inkjet head is installed such that the nozzle surface is parallel to the web, the inkjet head above the inclined portion of the web is installed with the nozzle surface inclined relative to the horizontal plane.

  In the case of an inkjet head whose nozzle surface is inclined relative to the horizontal plane, the ink which is discharged from the nozzle by purge during maintenance and adheres to the periphery of the nozzle on the nozzle surface is inclined by gravity before wiping the nozzle surface by the wiper. Move downward in the direction. For this reason, when wiping the nozzle surface with the wiper, the nozzle surface may be wiped in a state where there is no ink acting as a lubricant between the nozzle surface and the wiper on the upper side in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface. is there. As a result, the ink repellent film formed on the nozzle surface may be degraded to repel the ink. The deterioration of the ink repellent film leads to an increase in the frequency of replacement of the ink jet head.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet printing apparatus capable of reducing the deterioration of the ink repellent film on the nozzle surface of the ink jet head.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of nozzles for discharging ink, and a nozzle surface on which the nozzle is opened and an ink repellent film is formed, and the nozzle surface is horizontal. The ink jet head installed to be inclined with respect to the ink jet head, the purge means for discharging the ink from the nozzle of the ink jet head and depositing the ink on the nozzle surface, the ink discharged from the nozzle by the purge means adhered A wiper for wiping the nozzle surface in a wiping direction orthogonal to the inclining direction of the nozzle surface, at least a portion of the wiper including the end of the wiper at the lower side in the inclining direction being lower in the inclining direction The ink is inclined or curved toward the downstream side of the wipe direction toward the side, and the ink attached to the nozzle surface is inclined Inkjet printing apparatus is provided which is characterized that it is an ink push wipe portion which wipes the nozzle surface while pushed upward side from direction of the lower side.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plurality of nozzles for discharging ink, and a nozzle surface on which the nozzle is opened and an ink repellent film is formed, and the nozzle surface is inclined with respect to a horizontal surface. The ink jet head installed, a purge means for discharging the ink from the nozzle of the ink jet head to cause the ink to adhere to the nozzle surface, and the nozzle surface to which the ink discharged from the nozzle by the purge means adheres There is provided an ink jet printing apparatus comprising: a wiper which wipes from the lower side to the upper side in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of nozzles for discharging ink, and a nozzle surface where the nozzle is opened and an ink repellent film is formed, and the nozzle surface is inclined with respect to a horizontal surface at the time of printing The ink jet head is set to a state and the nozzle surface is set to a horizontal state at the time of maintenance, and the ink is discharged from the nozzles of the ink jet head set to a horizontal state and the ink is discharged to the nozzle surface The ink jet head according to the present invention is characterized by comprising: a purge means for adhering; and a wiper of the ink jet head in which the nozzle face is set to be horizontal, which wipes the nozzle face to which the ink discharged from the nozzle is attached by the purge means. An inkjet printing apparatus is provided.

  According to the inkjet printing apparatus of the present invention, the deterioration of the ink repellent film on the nozzle surface of the inkjet head can be reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a schematic block diagram of the printing system provided with the inkjet printing apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a control block diagram of a printing system shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of the head unit in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the nozzle surface of an inkjet head. FIG. 5 is a front view of the head unit shown in FIG. 3 in a standby state. FIG. 6 is a front view of the head unit shown in FIG. 3 at the time of printing. It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of the maintenance part in 1st Embodiment. It is a principal part enlarged plan view of a maintenance part shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the expansion | deployment position of a maintenance part. It is explanatory drawing of the evacuation position of a maintenance part. It is a figure which shows the state in which the ink discharged | emitted from the nozzle by purge adhered to the nozzle surface. It is a figure which shows the state which the ink which was discharged | emitted from the nozzle by purge and adhered to the nozzle surface gathered on the down side of the inclination direction of a nozzle surface. It is explanatory drawing of the wipe operation | movement by the maintenance part shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the wiper of the curved shape. It is explanatory drawing of the wipe operation | movement by the wiper shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the wiper of the shape which bent. It is explanatory drawing of the wipe operation | movement by the wiper shown in FIG. It is a principal part enlarged plan view of a maintenance part in a 2nd embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of the maintenance part in 3rd Embodiment. FIG. 20 is a plan view of the maintenance unit shown in FIG. 19; FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of a wiping operation by the maintenance unit shown in FIG. 19; It is a front view in standby of the head unit in a 4th embodiment. It is a front view at the time of printing of the head unit in a 4th embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the wipe operation | movement in 4th Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same or equivalent parts or components are denoted by the same or equivalent reference numerals throughout the drawings.

  The embodiment shown below exemplifies an apparatus etc. for embodying the technical idea of this invention, and the technical idea of this invention is the material, shape, structure, arrangement etc. of each component. Does not specify the following. Various changes can be added to the technical idea of the present invention within the scope of the claims.

First Embodiment
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing system provided with an inkjet printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the printing system shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the head unit in the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a view showing the nozzle surface of the ink jet head. FIG. 5 is a front view of the head unit shown in FIG. 3 during standby. 6 is a front view of the head unit shown in FIG. 3 at the time of printing. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the maintenance unit in the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view of an essential part of the maintenance unit shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of a deployed position of the maintenance unit. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the retreat position of the maintenance unit.

  In the following description, the direction orthogonal to the paper surface of FIG. 1 is referred to as the front-rear direction, and the front direction of the paper surface is referred to as the front. Further, the top, bottom, left, and right of the paper surface in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printing system 1 according to the first embodiment includes an unwinding device 2, an inkjet printing device 3, and a winding device 4.

  The unwinding device 2 unwinds the web W, which is a long printing medium made of film, paper or the like, to the inkjet printing device 3. The unwinding device 2 includes a web roll support shaft 11, a brake 12, and an unwinding device control unit 13.

  The web roll support shaft 11 rotatably supports the web roll 16. The web roll 16 is a web W wound in a roll.

  The brake 12 applies a brake to the web roll support shaft 11. Thus, tension is applied to the web W between the web roll 16 and the transport roller 43 of the inkjet printing apparatus 3 described later.

  The unwinding device control unit 13 controls the brake 12. The unwinding device control unit 13 is configured to include a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, a hard disk, and the like.

  The inkjet printing apparatus 3 prints an image on the web W while conveying the web W unwound from the unwinding apparatus 2. The inkjet printing apparatus 3 includes a transport unit 21, printing units 22A and 22B, and a printing apparatus control unit 23. Note that subscripts of the alphabets in the reference numerals of the printing units 22A and 22B may be omitted and collectively described.

  The transport unit 21 transports the web W unwound from the unwinding device 2. The conveyance unit 21 includes guide rollers 31 to 40, twenty head lower rollers 41, a meander control unit 42, a pair of conveyance rollers 43, and a conveyance motor 44.

  The guide rollers 31, 32 guide the web W between the unwinding device 2 and the meander control unit 42. The guide roller 31 is disposed below the left end of the ink jet printing apparatus 3. The guide roller 32 is disposed at the lower right of the guide roller 31.

  The guide rollers 33 to 39 guide the web W between the meander control unit 42 and the conveyance roller 43. The guide roller 33 is disposed slightly above the left of the meander control roller 47 of the meander control unit 42 described later. The guide roller 34 is disposed above the guide roller 33. The guide roller 35 is disposed at the same height as the guide roller 34 and to the right of the guide roller 34. The guide roller 36 is disposed below the guide roller 35 and higher than the guide roller 33. The guide roller 37 is disposed on the left side of the guide roller 36 and in the vicinity of the right side of the web W between the guide rollers 33 and 34 and at a position substantially the same height as the guide roller 36. The guide roller 38 is disposed at the lower right of the guide roller 37. The guide roller 39 is disposed below and slightly to the right of the guide roller 38.

  The guide roller 40 guides the web W between the transport roller 43 and the winding device 4. The guide roller 40 is disposed below the right end of the ink jet printing apparatus 3.

  The head lower roller 41 supports the web W under a head unit 51 described later between the guide rollers 34 and 35 and between the guide rollers 36 and 37. Ten head lower rollers 41 are disposed between the guide rollers 34 and 35 and between the guide rollers 36 and 37, respectively. The two lower head rollers 41 are disposed for each head unit 51.

  Ten head lower rollers 41 are arranged in a convex arch shape between the guide rollers 34 and 35 and between the guide rollers 36 and 37, respectively. That is, the head lower roller 41 is arranged as follows. Between the guide rollers 34 and 35 and between the guide rollers 36 and 37, the two head lower rollers 41 below the central head unit 51 among the five head units 51 are arranged at the same height. And, between the guide rollers 34, 35 and between the guide rollers 36, 37, the lower five head lower rollers 41 on the left side are disposed at lower positions as the left lower one, and the lower five head lower rollers 41 on the right side are right The lower ones are located at lower positions.

  As the web W is conveyed along the arched lower head roller 41 in this manner, the web W under the head unit 51 is stretched between the adjacent lower head rollers 41, and the web W The posture of is stabilized.

  The meandering control unit 42 corrects meandering, which is a change in position in the width direction (front-rear direction) of the web W. The meander control unit 42 includes meander control rollers 46 and 47.

  The meander control rollers 46 and 47 guide the web W and correct the meander of the web W. The meandering control rollers 46 and 47 are rotated by a motor (not shown) so as to be inclined with respect to the width direction of the web W when viewed from the lateral direction, thereby moving the web W in the width direction to correct the meandering. The meandering control roller 46 is disposed to the right of the guide roller 32. The meander control roller 47 is disposed above the meander control roller 46.

  The pair of transport rollers 43 transports the web W toward the winding device 4 while nipping the web W. The pair of conveyance rollers 43 is disposed between the guide rollers 39 and 40.

  The conveyance motor 44 rotationally drives the conveyance roller 43.

  The printing units 22A and 22B print on the front and back surfaces of the web W, respectively. The printing units 22A and 22B each include five head units 51, an ink circulation mechanism 52, and five ink temperature sensors 53.

  The head unit 51 discharges the ink to the web W to print an image. In the printing units 22A and 22B, the five head units 51 discharge inks of different colors onto the web W, respectively. The five head units 51 of the printing unit 22A are disposed in the vicinity of the upper side of the web W between the guide rollers 34 and 35. The five head units 51 of the printing unit 22B are disposed in the vicinity of the upper side of the web W between the guide rollers 36 and 37.

  Each head unit 51 is installed along an arched conveyance path formed by the head lower roller 41 arranged in an arch shape as described above. Specifically, in each head unit 51, a nozzle surface 66a of an ink jet head 66 described later included in the head unit 51 is parallel to the web W between the two head lower rollers 41 below the head unit 51. As installed. In other words, in each head unit 51, the head height direction, which is a direction orthogonal to the nozzle surface 66a in the head unit 51, is orthogonal to the web W between the two head lower rollers 41 below the head unit 51. It is installed to do. This is to ensure an appropriate head gap.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the head unit 51 includes a print bar 56, an elevating motor 57, two base portions 58, two base motors 59, a maintenance portion 60, and a moving motor 61. .

  The print bar 56 includes ten inkjet heads 66, a head base 67, two wall portions 68, and two supported portions 69.

  The inkjet head 66 has two rows of nozzle rows 71, as shown in FIG. The two nozzle rows 71 each have a plurality of nozzles 72 arranged at a predetermined pitch in the front-rear direction (main scanning direction). The positions of the nozzles 72 in the front-rear direction in the two nozzle rows 71 are offset from each other by a half pitch.

  The nozzles 72 are opened at a nozzle surface 66 a which is a surface (lower surface) opposite to the web W of the inkjet head 66, and the ink is discharged onto the web W. The nozzles 72 eject ink in the direction orthogonal to the nozzle surface 66a.

  An ink repellent film is formed on the surface of the nozzle surface 66 a of the ink jet head 66. The ink repellent film is made of a material having the property of repelling ink, and is made of, for example, an amorphous fluorine resin.

  The inkjet heads 66 are arranged in a staggered manner in the print bar 56 along the front-rear direction. That is, in print bar 56, two head rows in which five ink jet heads 66 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the front and back direction are arranged in parallel in the left and right direction, and the positions of the ink jet heads 66 in the front and back direction are mutually offset. ing.

  The head base 67 holds the ink jet head 66. The head base 67 is formed of a rectangular plate-like member. The head base 67 is formed with a mounting opening for mounting the ink jet head 66. The ink jet head 66 is inserted into and fixed to the mounting opening so that the nozzle surface 66 a protrudes downward from the head base 67.

  The wall portion 68 supports the supported portion 69. The wall portions 68 are provided upright on the front end portion and the rear end portion of the head base 67, respectively.

  The supported portion 69 is a member supported by the base portion 58 when the print bar 56 is in the standby position. One of the supported portions 69 of the two supported portions 69 is erected on the front surface of the front wall portion 68, and the other supported portion 69 is erected on the rear surface of the rear wall portion 68.

  Here, the standby position of the print bar 56 is the position of the print bar 56 during standby when the printing system 1 does not operate. The standby position of the print bar 56 is higher than the printing position, which is the position of the print bar 56 at the time of printing. The print bar 56 is configured to be able to move up and down along the head height direction. The print bar 56 in FIG. 3 is in the state of being disposed at the standby position.

  The elevation motor 57 raises and lowers the print bar 56.

  The base portion 58 supports the supported portion 69 in order to position the print bar 56 in the standby position. One base portion 58 of the two base portions 58 supports the supported portion 69 on the front side, and the other base portion 58 supports the supported portion 69 on the rear side. The base portion 58 is supported such that the head inclination angle θ (see FIGS. 5 and 6), which is the inclination angle of the nozzle surface 66a with respect to the horizontal plane, is the same as the head inclination angle θ at the printing position Support the part 69. The base portion 58 is configured to be retractable from the elevating trajectory of the print bar 56 by pivoting about the pivot shaft 58 a.

  The base motor 59 rotates the base portion 58 around the rotation shaft 58a. The base motor 59 is provided corresponding to each of the two base portions 58 one by one.

  Here, as described above, in each head unit 51, the nozzle surface 66a of the ink jet head 66 of the head unit 51 is parallel to the web W between the two head lower rollers 41 below the head unit 51. It is set up to be For this reason, in the printing unit 22, the inkjet heads 66 of the four head units 51 other than the central head unit 51 are installed such that the nozzle surface 66a is inclined in the left-right direction (the transport direction of the web W) with respect to the horizontal surface. ing. The head tilt angle θ is the same whether the print bar 56 is in the printing position or in the standby position. The nozzle surface 66a is not inclined in the front-rear direction.

  Specifically, for example, in the head unit 51 at the left end and the second head unit 51 from the left, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the nozzle surface 66a of the ink jet head 66 is inclined downward to the left with respect to the horizontal surface As installed. The head inclination angle θ is the same as the inclination angle of the web W facing the nozzle surface 66a with respect to the horizontal plane.

  Here, FIG. 5 is a front view of the head unit 51 while the printing system 1 is in the standby state, in which the print bar 56 is disposed at the standby position. As described later, during standby, as shown in FIG. 5, the maintenance unit 60 is disposed at the deployed position directly below the print bar 56.

  FIG. 6 is a front view of the head unit 51 at the time of printing, in which the print bar 56 is disposed at the printing position. In the printing position, the print bar 56 is positioned by supporting the head base 67 on a positioning member (not shown) provided on the transport unit 21. Further, as described later, at the time of printing, the maintenance unit 60 is disposed at a retracted position behind the print bar 56.

  The inclination angle of the web W under the second head unit 51 from the left is smaller than the inclination angle of the web W under the head unit 51 at the left end. Therefore, the head tilt angle θ of the head unit 51 second from the left is smaller than that of the head unit 51 at the left end.

  Although not shown, the rightmost head unit 51 and the second head unit 51 from the right are installed such that the nozzle surface 66a of the ink jet head 66 is inclined downward to the right with respect to the horizontal plane. The head tilt angle θ is smaller at the second head unit 51 from the right than the head unit 51 at the right end.

  The maintenance unit 60 cleans the nozzle surface 66 a of the ink jet head 66. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the maintenance unit 60 includes an ink receiving unit 76 and a wiper unit 77.

  The ink receiving portion 76 receives ink or the like to be removed from the nozzle surface 66 a by a wipe by a wiper 82 described later at the time of maintenance. The ink receiving portion 76 has a tray shape having a rectangular shape in a plan view. The ink receiving portion 76 is provided such that a flat bottom plate 76 a is orthogonal to the head height direction.

  The wiper unit 77 wipes the nozzle surface 66 a of the inkjet head 66 to remove ink and the like on the nozzle surface 66 a. The wiper unit 77 includes a wiper mount 81 and two wipers 82.

  The wiper mount 81 is a mount to which the wiper 82 is attached. The wiper mount 81 is disposed at the front end of the ink receiver 76.

  The wiper 82 is a member that wipes the nozzle surface 66 a of the inkjet head 66. The wiper 82 is made of an elastically deformable material such as rubber, and is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. The wiper 82 is attached to the wiper mount 81 such that the upper end thereof protrudes upward from the upper end of the wiper mount 81 and the upper end thereof is parallel to the bottom plate 76 a of the ink receiving portion 76. One wiper 82 of the two wipers 82 wipes the nozzle surface 66 a of each inkjet head 66 of one head row in the print bar 56, and the other wiper 82 corresponds to each inkjet head 66 of the other head row. Wipe the nozzle surface 66a of

  The wiper 82 is in contact with the ink jet head 66 when the maintenance unit 60 moves backward from the deployed position directly below the print bar 56 toward the retracted position, and a nozzle to which the ink discharged from the nozzle 72 adheres by purge Wipe face 66a.

  In the head unit 51 in which the nozzle surface 66a is inclined, the lower side in the inclination direction (left and right direction) of the nozzle surface 66a is inclined toward the downstream side (rear side) in the wipe direction (front and rear direction) The orientation of the wiper 82 with respect to the wipe direction is set.

  Here, FIG. 8 shows the main part of the maintenance unit 60 in the head unit 51 in which the nozzle surface 66a is inclined downward to the left. That is, in the head unit 51 at the left end and the second head unit 51 from the left, as described above, the nozzle surface 66a is inclined downward to the left. Therefore, in the head unit 51 at the left end and the second head unit 51 from the left, as shown in FIG. 8, the wiper 82 is attached to the wiper mounting base 81 so as to be inclined rearward toward the left side. ing.

  On the other hand, in the head unit 51 at the right end and the second head unit 51 from the right, as described above, the nozzle surface 66a is inclined downward to the right. For this reason, in the head unit 51 at the right end and the head unit 51 at the right from the right, the wiper mounting base 81 is so inclined that it is inclined rearward toward the right as opposed to the wiper 82 shown in FIG. Is attached to

  As described above, when the wiper 82 is inclined toward the downstream side (rear side) in the wiping direction toward the lower side in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface 66a, it adheres to the nozzle surface 66a at the time of wiping While pushing up the ink from the lower side to the upper side in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface 66a, the nozzle surface 66a is wiped. That is, in the wiper 82 of the maintenance section 60 of the head unit 51 in which the nozzle surface 66a is inclined, the whole corresponds to the ink push-up wipe portion in the claims.

  In the head unit 51 at the center of the printing unit 22, the nozzle surface 66a is not inclined (parallel to the left-right direction), so the wiper 82 is attached to the wiper mount 81 so as to be parallel to the left-right direction. It is done.

  The orientation of the wiper 82 in the head unit 51 in which the nozzle surface 66a is inclined is set in accordance with the head inclination angle θ.

  Specifically, in each head unit 51 in which the nozzle surface 66a is inclined, the larger the head inclination angle θ, the larger the inclination angle α of the wiper 82 with respect to the lateral direction which is a direction orthogonal to the wipe direction. It is done.

  For example, in the head unit 51 at the left end, the head inclination angle θ is larger than that of the head unit 51 from the left. For this reason, the inclination angle α of the wiper 82 is larger at the head unit 51 at the left end than the head unit 51 at the second position from the left. The head inclination angle θ of the rightmost head unit 51 is larger than that of the second head unit 51 from the right. Therefore, the inclination angle α of the wiper 82 is larger at the head unit 51 at the right end than the head unit 51 at the second from the right.

  As the head inclination angle θ is larger, the ink discharged from the nozzle 72 by the purge and attached to the nozzle surface 66a is likely to be lowered downward by gravity. On the other hand, the larger the inclination angle α of the wiper 82, the easier the wiper 82 pushes up the ink to the upper side of the nozzle surface 66a at the time of wiping.

  Therefore, as described above, by making the inclination angle α of the wiper 82 larger as the head inclination angle θ is larger, it is possible to suppress that the wiper 82 can not push up the ink falling to the lower side of the nozzle surface 66a.

  The inclination angle α of the wiper 82 according to the head inclination angle θ is set based on, for example, an experiment or the like.

  The moving motor 61 moves the maintenance unit 60 between the deployed position and the retracted position. The unfolded position of the maintenance unit 60 is the position of the maintenance unit 60 while the printing system 1 is waiting, and as shown in FIG. The retracted position of the maintenance unit 60 is the position of the maintenance unit 60 at the time of printing, and as shown in FIG. 10, it is a position retracted backward from the deployed position.

  The ink circulation mechanism unit 52 supplies the ink to the inkjet head 66 of the head unit 51 while circulating the ink. The ink circulation mechanism 52 has an ink circulation path (not shown) for each color of ink, and supplies the ink of the corresponding color to each head unit 51 while circulating the ink of each color. Further, the ink circulation mechanism unit 52 has a temperature adjustment mechanism (not shown) for adjusting the temperature of the ink of each color.

  Also, the ink circulation mechanism unit 52 has a pressure generation mechanism (not shown) that generates pressure for circulating the ink of each color along the respective ink circulation paths. By this pressure generation mechanism, a purge pressure at the time of purge at the time of maintenance of the ink jet head 66 can be generated at the ink jet head 66. In addition, the ink circulation mechanism unit 52 is configured to be able to adjust the purge pressure and the purge time for each head unit 51. The ink circulation mechanism 52 corresponds to the purge unit in the claims.

  The ink temperature sensor 53 detects the temperature of the ink supplied to the inkjet head 66. The ink temperature sensors 53 are provided corresponding to the five head units 51 one by one. Specifically, one ink temperature sensor 53 is provided in the ink circulation path for each color ink of the ink circulation mechanism unit 52. The ink temperature detected by the ink temperature sensor 53 is used to adjust the ink temperature by the temperature adjustment mechanism of the ink circulation mechanism unit 52. In addition, the ink temperature detected by the ink temperature sensor 53 is also used to adjust the purge pressure and purge time at the time of maintenance.

  The printing apparatus control unit 23 controls the operation of each unit of the inkjet printing apparatus 3. The printing device control unit 23 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, a hard disk, and the like.

  The winding device 4 winds up the web W printed by the inkjet printing device 3. The winding device 4 includes a winding shaft 91, a winding motor 92, and a winding device control unit 93.

  The winding shaft 91 winds and holds the web W.

  The winding motor 92 rotates the winding shaft 91 clockwise in FIG. The web W is wound around the winding shaft 91 by the rotation of the winding shaft 91.

  The winding device control unit 93 controls the driving of the winding motor 92. The winding device control unit 93 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, a hard disk, and the like.

  Next, an operation at the time of printing by the printing system 1 will be described.

  During standby before the printing system 1 starts the printing operation, the print bar 56 is disposed at the standby position, and the maintenance unit 60 is disposed at the deployed position. In this state, the upper end of the wiper 82 is at a position higher than the nozzle surface 66a.

  When printing is performed, when a print job is input, the printing apparatus control unit 23 moves the maintenance unit 60 to the retracted position and moves the print bar 56 to the printing position.

  Specifically, first, the printing apparatus control unit 23 controls the lift motor 57 to raise the print bar 56 to a predetermined height above the standby position. As a result, the nozzle surface 66 a is in a position higher than the upper end of the wiper 82.

  Next, the printing apparatus control unit 23 controls the moving motor 61 to move the maintenance unit 60 from the deployed position to the retracted position. Next, the printing apparatus control unit 23 controls the lift motor 57 to lower the print bar 56 to the printing position. At this time, the printing apparatus control unit 23 rotates the base portion 58 by the base motor 59 and retracts it from the elevating track of the print bar 56.

  Next, the unwinding device control unit 13, the printing device control unit 23, and the winding device control unit 93 start the conveyance of the web W.

  Specifically, the unwinding device control unit 13 starts driving the brake 12, the printing device control unit 23 starts driving the conveyance motor 44, and the winding device control unit 93 starts driving the winding motor 92. Let Thus, the web W is transported from the unwinding device 2 toward the winding device 4. When the web roll support shaft 11 is braked by the brake 12 of the unwinding device 2, the web W is transported while tension is applied to the web W between the web roll 16 and the transport roller 43.

  After starting the conveyance of the web W, the printing apparatus control unit 23 controls the respective ink jet heads 66 based on the print job while supplying ink to the respective ink jet heads 66 by the ink circulation mechanism unit 52 to print an image on the web W Print

  When printing based on the print job is completed, the unwinding device control unit 13, the printing device control unit 23, and the winding device control unit 93 end the transport of the web W. Specifically, the unwinding device control unit 13 stops the brake 12, the printing device control unit 23 stops the conveyance motor 44, and the winding device control unit 93 stops the winding motor 92.

  Thereafter, the printing apparatus control unit 23 returns the maintenance unit 60 and the print bar 56 to the respective positions of the printing system 1 while waiting. That is, the printing apparatus control unit 23 arranges the maintenance unit 60 at the unfolded position, and arranges the print bar 56 at the standby position.

  Specifically, first, the printing apparatus control unit 23 controls the lift motor 57 to raise the print bar 56 to a predetermined height above the standby position. At this time, the printing apparatus control unit 23 rotates the base portion 58 by the base motor 59 and retracts it from the elevating track of the print bar 56.

  Next, the printing apparatus control unit 23 controls the moving motor 61 to move the maintenance unit 60 from the retracted position to the deployed position. Next, the printing apparatus control unit 23 controls the base motor 59 to return the base portion 58 to a state in which the supported portion 69 of the print bar 56 can be supported.

  Then, the printing apparatus control unit 23 controls the lift motor 57 to lower the print bar 56 to the standby position. This completes the series of operations.

  Next, an operation when the inkjet printing apparatus 3 performs maintenance on the inkjet head 66 will be described.

  When maintenance of the inkjet head 66 is started, the print bar 56 is disposed at the standby position, and the maintenance unit 60 is disposed at the deployed position.

  In this state, the printing apparatus control unit 23 executes a purge. Specifically, the printing apparatus control unit 23 controls the ink circulation mechanism unit 52 so that the purge pressure is generated in the inkjet head 66 and the ink is discharged from the nozzle 72. Thereby, the ink is pushed out from the nozzle 72 of the ink jet head 66, and the ink adheres to the nozzle surface 66a.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 11, the ink droplets 96 in the form of droplets adhere to the nozzle surface 66a along the nozzle row 71. In the inkjet head 66 in which the nozzle surface 66a is inclined, the ink 96 on the nozzle surface 66a is lowered to the lower side in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface 66a by gravity. As a result, the ink 96 discharged from the nozzle row 71 on the upper side in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface 66a and the ink 96 discharged from the nozzle row 71 on the lower side are united, as shown in FIG. The ink 96 gathers on the lower side in the inclination direction of the ink.

  Here, in the head unit 51 in which the nozzle surface 66a is inclined, the amount of ink discharged from the nozzles 72 by purge is adjusted according to the head inclination angle θ.

  As described above, the ink discharged from the nozzles 72 of the ink jet head 66 in which the nozzle surface 66a is inclined drops by gravity downward to the lower side in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface 66a. At this time, part of the ink may fall from the nozzle surface 66a. On the other hand, of the ink discharged from the nozzles 72 by the purge, the ink falling from the nozzle surface 66a due to the inclination of the nozzle surface 66a is reduced as the head inclination angle θ is smaller. Therefore, in each head unit 51 in which the nozzle surface 66a is inclined, the amount of ink discharged from the nozzle 72 by the purge is adjusted to be smaller as the head inclination angle θ is smaller. As a result, it is possible to suppress the discharge of the ink more than necessary in the purge.

  For example, the second head unit 51 from the left is set to have a smaller amount of ink discharged from the nozzles 72 by the purge than the head unit 51 at the left end. Similarly, the second head unit 51 from the right is set to have a smaller amount of ink discharged from the nozzles 72 by the purge than the head unit 51 at the right end.

  The amount of ink discharged from the nozzle 72 by the purge is adjusted by adjusting the purge pressure generated in the ink jet head 66 by the ink circulation mechanism 52 and / or the purge time.

  Here, at the time of purge, as the temperature of the ink supplied to the inkjet head 66 is higher, the viscosity of the ink is lower, and the ink is easily discharged from the nozzle 72. Therefore, at the time of purge, the printing apparatus control unit 23 controls the purge pressure and the purge time so that the desired amount of ink is discharged in each head unit 51 based on the temperature of the ink detected by the ink temperature sensor 53. The ink circulation mechanism unit 52 is controlled to adjust at least one of them.

  When the purge is completed, the printing apparatus control unit 23 controls the moving motor 61 to move the maintenance unit 60 from the deployed position to the retracted position. During this movement, the wiper 82 contacts the inkjet head 66 and wipes the nozzle surface 66a.

  At this time, in each head unit 51 in which the nozzle surface 66a is inclined, since the wiper 82 is inclined as described above, the ink 96 on the nozzle surface 66a is along the wiper 82 as shown in FIG. Thus, the nozzle surface 66a is pushed upward from the lower side in the inclination direction. Thus, even if ink gathers on the lower side in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface 66a before wiping, the entire surface of the nozzle surface 66a has the ink acting as a lubricant between the nozzle surface 66a and the wiper 82. Is wiped with

  After the maintenance unit 60 moves while wiping the nozzle surface 66 a and reaches the retracted position, the printing apparatus control unit 23 returns the maintenance unit 60 to the deployed position.

  Specifically, first, the printing apparatus control unit 23 controls the lift motor 57 to raise the print bar 56 to a predetermined height above the standby position. As a result, the nozzle surface 66 a is in a position higher than the upper end of the wiper 82.

  Next, the printing apparatus control unit 23 controls the moving motor 61 to move the maintenance unit 60 from the retracted position to the deployed position.

  Then, the printing apparatus control unit 23 controls the lift motor 57 to lower the print bar 56 to the standby height position. Thus, the operation at the time of maintenance of the inkjet head 66 is completed.

  As described above, in the ink jet printing apparatus 3, in the head unit 51 in which the nozzle surface 66 a is inclined, the wiper 82 inclining toward the downstream side in the wiping direction toward the lower side in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface 66 a However, while pushing up the ink adhering to the nozzle surface 66a from the lower side in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface 66a to the upper side, the nozzle surface 66a is wiped. As a result, it is possible to reduce the wiping of the nozzle surface 66a in a state where there is no ink acting as a lubricant between the nozzle surface 66a and the wiper 82 on the upper side in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface 66a. As a result, deterioration of the ink repellent film on the nozzle surface 66 a of the ink jet head 66 can be reduced.

  Further, in the ink jet printing apparatus 3, in the head unit 51 in which the nozzle surface 66a is inclined, the amount of ink discharged from the nozzles 72 by purge is adjusted according to the head inclination angle θ. As a result, since it is possible to suppress the discharge of the ink more than necessary in the purge, it is possible to suppress the waste of the ink.

  In the embodiment described above, the wiper 82 is formed of a flat plate-like member. Then, in the head unit 51 in which the nozzle surface 66a is inclined, the wiper 82 is oriented such that the lower side of the inclination direction of the nozzle surface 66a to which the wiper 82 wipes is inclined toward the downstream side of the wipe direction. Set.

  However, even if the wiper of the maintenance unit 60 in the head unit 51 in which the nozzle surface 66a is inclined has a shape curved toward the downstream side in the wipe direction toward the lower side in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface 66a. Good.

  FIG. 14 is a view showing the wiper 82A having a curved shape as described above. The wiper 82A shown in FIG. 14 is formed in an arc shape that is convexly curved to the upstream side in the wiping direction so as to be more rearward toward the left side. That is, FIG. 14 shows the wiper 82A in the head unit 51 (the head unit 51 at the left end and the second head unit 51 from the left) in which the nozzle surface 66a is inclined downward to the left. In the head unit 51 (the head unit 51 at the right end and the second head unit 51 from the right) where the nozzle surface 66a is inclined downward to the right, the wiper 82A is directed backward toward the right as opposed to FIG. In addition, it is formed in a convexly curved shape on the upstream side in the wipe direction. The wiper 82A corresponds in its entirety to an ink push-up portion in the claims.

  In the wiper 82A, the inclination angle of the tangent at the lower end of the nozzle surface 66a in the inclination direction with respect to the left and right direction is taken as the inclination angle α of the wiper 82A with respect to the left and right direction. In the maintenance unit 60 using the wiper 82A, the inclination angle α of the wiper 82A is set according to the head inclination angle θ, as in the above-described embodiment. That is, the larger the head inclination angle θ, the larger the inclination angle α of the wiper 82A.

  Even when wiped by the wiper 82A, as shown in FIG. 15, the ink 96 on the nozzle surface 66a is pushed up along the wiper 82A from the lower side in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface 66a. As a result, it is possible to reduce the wiping of the nozzle surface 66a in a state where there is no ink acting as a lubricant between the nozzle surface 66a and the wiper 82A above the nozzle surface 66a. As a result, deterioration of the ink repellent film on the nozzle surface 66 a of the ink jet head 66 can be reduced.

  In the wiper of the maintenance unit 60 in the head unit 51 in which the nozzle surface 66a is inclined, part of the wiper including the end of the wiper on the lower side in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface 66a is lower in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface 66a. It is inclined toward the downstream side in the wipe direction toward the side, and it is the part that wipes the nozzle surface 66a while pushing up the ink adhering to the nozzle surface 66a from the lower side of the inclined direction of the nozzle surface 66a to the upper side It may be.

  In FIG. 16, as described above, a part of the wiper including the end of the wiper on the lower side in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface 66 a inclines so that the downstream side in the wipe direction is closer to the lower side in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface 66 a It is a figure which shows the wiper 82B. The wiper 82B is formed by connecting two flat plate-like portions 82l and 82r so as to form a predetermined angle, and has a shape bent at the central portion in the left-right direction.

  The wiper 82B shown in FIG. 16 is formed such that the left plate-like portion 82l is inclined rearward as it goes to the left, and the right plate-like portion 82r is parallel to the left-right direction. That is, FIG. 16 shows the wiper 82B in the head unit 51 (the head unit 51 at the left end and the second head unit 51 from the left) in which the nozzle surface 66a is inclined downward to the left. In the head unit 51 (the head unit 51 at the right end and the second head unit 51 from the right) where the nozzle surface 66a is inclined downward to the right, the wiper 82B is opposite to that in FIG. It inclines toward the rear side toward the right side, and the left plate-like portion 821 is formed to be parallel to the left-right direction. In the wiper 82B, one of the plate-like portions 82l and 82r located on the lower side in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface 66a corresponds to the ink pushing-up wipe portion in the claims.

  In this wiper 82B, the inclination angle with respect to the left and right direction of the plate-like portions 82l and 82r located on the lower side in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface 66a is taken as the inclination angle α of the wiper 82B with respect to the left and right direction. In the maintenance unit 60 using the wiper 82B, the inclination angle α of the wiper 82B is set according to the head inclination angle θ, as in the above-described embodiment. That is, as the head tilt angle θ is larger, the tilt angle α of the wiper 82B is set larger.

  Even when wiping is performed by the wiper 82B, as shown in FIG. 17, the ink 96 on the nozzle surface 66a extends along the inclined portion of the wiper 82B (the plate-like portion 821 on the left side in the example of FIG. 17). It is pushed up from the lower side in the tilting direction. As a result, it is possible to reduce the wiping of the nozzle surface 66a in a state where there is no ink acting as a lubricant between the nozzle surface 66a and the wiper 82A above the nozzle surface 66a. As a result, deterioration of the ink repellent film on the nozzle surface 66 a of the ink jet head 66 can be reduced.

  The shape of the plate-like portions 82l and 82r of the wiper 82B, which is on the lower side in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface 66a, is curved toward the downstream side in the wipe direction toward the lower side in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface 66a. It may be At least a portion of the wiper including the end of the wiper on the lower side in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface 66a inclines or curves toward the downstream side in the wipe direction toward the lower side in the inclination direction and adheres to the nozzle surface 66a The ink may be any ink push-up portion that wipes the nozzle surface 66a while pushing up the ink from the lower side to the upper side in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface 66a.

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment in which the maintenance unit of the first embodiment described above is changed will be described. FIG. 18 is an enlarged plan view of the main parts of the maintenance unit in the second embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 18, the maintenance unit 60A in the second embodiment has a configuration in which an adjusting motor (corresponding to the adjusting unit in the claims) 101 is added to the maintenance unit 60 in the first embodiment described above. Further, the wiper mounting base 81 of the maintenance unit 60A is configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis orthogonal to the bottom plate 76a of the ink receiving unit 76.

  The adjustment motor 101 rotates the wiper mount 81 about a rotation axis orthogonal to the bottom plate 76 a of the ink receiving portion 76 to adjust the direction of the wiper 82.

  In the second embodiment, the orientation of the wiper 82 in the head unit 51 in which the nozzle surface 66 a is inclined is adjusted in accordance with the temperature of the ink supplied to the ink jet head 66. Specifically, in each head unit 51 in which the nozzle surface 66a is inclined, the inclination angle α of the wiper 82 is adjusted to be larger as the temperature of the ink supplied to the ink jet head 66 is higher.

  The higher the temperature of the ink, the lower the viscosity of the ink, and the ink adhering to the nozzle surface 66a is likely to fall downward. On the other hand, the larger the inclination angle α of the wiper 82, the easier the wiper 82 pushes up the ink to the upper side of the nozzle surface 66a at the time of wiping. Therefore, as described above, by increasing the inclination angle α of the wiper 82 as the temperature of the ink is higher, it is possible to suppress that the wiper 82 can not push up the ink falling to the lower side of the nozzle surface 66a.

  The inclination angle α (the direction of the wiper 82) of the wiper 82 according to the temperature of the ink in each head unit 51 in which the nozzle surface 66a is inclined is determined in advance based on experiments etc. for each of a plurality of ink temperature ranges. There is.

  At the time of maintenance, the printing apparatus control unit 23 sets the inclination angle α of the wiper 82 of each head unit 51 in which the nozzle surface 66a is inclined to an angle corresponding to the temperature of the ink detected by the ink temperature sensor 53. The adjustment motor 101 is controlled and adjusted.

  In the head unit 51 at the center of the printing unit 22, the nozzle surface 66a is not inclined, so the wiper 82 is fixed in the direction in which the inclination angle α is 0 degrees. Therefore, in the head unit 51 at the center, the direction of the wiper 82 may not be adjusted.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, in the head unit 51 in which the nozzle surface 66a is inclined, the direction of the wiper 82 with respect to the wipe direction is adjusted according to the temperature of the ink supplied to the ink jet head 66. As a result, the viscosity decreases as the temperature of the ink decreases, and the ink tends to flow downward on the nozzle surface 66a, while the wiper 82 can be prevented from being unable to push the ink falling downward downward. As a result, it is possible to further reduce the wiping of the nozzle surface 66a in the state where there is no ink between the nozzle surface 66a and the wiper 82 above the nozzle surface 66a, so that the ink repellent film on the nozzle surface 66a of the ink jet head 66 Can further reduce the deterioration of the

  Also in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the wiper attached to the wiper mount 81 has a curved shape like the wiper 82A of FIG. 14 described above or the wiper 82B of FIG. It may be in a bent shape.

  The inclination angle of only one of the plate-like portions 82l and 82r of the wiper 82B shown in FIG. 16 on the lower side in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface 66a is adjusted with respect to the horizontal direction according to the temperature of the ink supplied to the inkjet head 66 It may be configured to

Third Embodiment
Next, a third embodiment in which the maintenance unit of the first embodiment described above is changed will be described. FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a maintenance unit in the third embodiment. FIG. 20 is a plan view of the maintenance unit shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the maintenance unit 60B in the third embodiment includes an ink receiving unit 111, wiper units 112A and 112B, and a wiper driving unit 113.

  Here, the head unit 51 at the left end where the nozzle surface 66a is inclined downward to the left and the maintenance unit 60B in the second head unit 51 from the left, and the head unit 51 at the right end where the nozzle surface 66a is inclined downward to the right The maintenance unit 60B of the second head unit 51 from the right is installed so as to rotate 180 degrees with respect to each other in plan view.

  The direction of the maintenance portion 60B in the central head unit 51 may be the same as the direction of the maintenance portion 60B in the head unit 51 in which the nozzle surface 66a is inclined downward to the left, or the nozzle surface 66a is inclined downward to the right. The direction of the maintenance unit 60B in the head unit 51 may be the same.

  19 and 20 illustrate the maintenance portion 60B in the direction of the head unit 51 in which the nozzle surface 66a is inclined downward to the left. Here, the configuration of the maintenance unit 60B will be described based on a state where the nozzle surface 66a is installed in the direction of the head unit 51 which is inclined downward to the left.

  The ink receiving portion 111 receives ink or the like to be removed from the nozzle surface 66 a by a wipe with a wiper 117 described later at the time of maintenance. The ink receiving portion 111 has a tray shape having a rectangular shape in a plan view. The ink receiving portion 111 is provided so that a flat bottom plate 111 a is orthogonal to the head height direction.

  The wiper units 112A and 112B wipe the nozzle surface 66a of the inkjet head 66 to remove ink and the like on the nozzle surface 66a. The wiper units 112A and 112B are disposed in parallel in the left-right direction, and the wiper unit 112A is disposed on the right side of the wiper unit 112B. The wiper units 112A and 112B each include a wiper mount 116 and five wipers 117.

  The wiper mount 116 is a mount to which the wiper 117 is attached. Five wipers 117 are attached to the wiper mount 116 along the front-rear direction. The wiper mount 116 is formed with a pair of screw holes 116a and 116b. Screw gears 124A and 124B described later are respectively penetrated and screwed into the screw holes 116a and 116b. The rotation of the screw gears 124A and 124B causes the wiper mount 116 to move in a direction parallel to the bottom plate 111a of the ink receiving portion 111 and orthogonal to the front-rear direction.

  The wiper 117 is a member that wipes the nozzle surface 66 a of the inkjet head 66. The wiper 117 is made of a material such as elastically deformable rubber and is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. The wiper 117 is attached to the wiper mount 116 so that the upper end thereof protrudes upward from the upper end of the wiper mount 116 and the upper end side is parallel to the bottom plate 111 a of the ink receiving portion 111. The five wipers 117 of the wiper unit 112A wipe the nozzle surface 66a of each ink jet head 66 of the right head row of the print bar 56. The five wipers 117 of the wiper unit 112 B wipe the nozzle surface 66 a of each inkjet head 66 of the left head row of the print bar 56. The wiper 117 wipes the nozzle surface 66 a while moving in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction.

  The wiper drive unit 113 moves the wiper units 112A and 112B. The wiper drive unit 113 includes a wiper motor 121, a drive belt 122, a pair of drive pulleys 123A and 123B, and a pair of screw gears 124A and 124B.

  The wiper motor 121 generates a rotational driving force for moving the wiper units 112A and 112B. The wiper motor 121 is disposed outside the left side wall of the ink receiving portion 111. The wiper motor 121 has an output gear 121a. The output gear 121 a transmits the rotational drive force of the wiper motor 121 to the drive belt 122. The output gear 121 a is disposed at the center of the drive belt 122.

  The drive belt 122 transmits the rotational drive force transmitted from the wiper motor 121 to the drive pulleys 123A and 123B. The drive belt 122 is stretched around the drive pulley 123A and the drive pulley 123B.

  The pair of drive pulleys 123A and 123B transmit the rotational drive force transmitted from the drive belt 122 to the screw gears 124A and 124B. The drive pulley 123A and the drive pulley 123B are disposed at the same height at predetermined intervals in the front-rear direction. The drive pulleys 123A and 123B are rotatably supported on the left side wall of the ink receiving portion 111.

  The screw gears 124A and 124B move the wiper units 112A and 112B by the rotational drive force transmitted from the drive pulleys 123A and 123B. The screw gears 124A and 124B extend substantially the entire length between the left side wall and the right side wall of the ink receiving portion 111. The left ends of the screw gears 124A and 124B are fixed to the drive pulleys 123A and 123B, respectively. The right ends of the screw gears 124A and 124B are rotatably supported on the right side wall of the ink receiving portion 111. Thus, the screw gears 124A and 124B rotate with the drive pulleys 123A and 123B, respectively.

  In the third embodiment, in the head unit 51 in which the nozzle surface 66a is inclined in a state where the maintenance unit 60B is disposed at the deployed position, as shown in FIG. 20, the wiper units 112A and 112B respectively wipe With respect to the inkjet head 66 of the wipe row | line | column of which, it is arrange | positioned in the down side vicinity in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface 66a.

  In the head unit 51 at the center, in the state where the maintenance unit 60B is disposed at the deployed position, the wiper units 112A and 112B are disposed either in the vicinity of the right or the vicinity of the left There is.

  Further, in the state where the maintenance portion 60B is disposed at the deployed position, the upper end of the wiper 117 is at a position higher than the nozzle surface 66a.

  When maintenance is performed, the printing apparatus control unit 23 purges in the same manner as in the first embodiment in a state where the maintenance unit 60B is disposed at the deployed position, and causes the ink to adhere to the nozzle surface 66a. Next, the printing apparatus control unit 23 controls the wiper driving unit 113 so as to move the wiper units 112A and 112B to the side of the inkjet head 66 to wipe each of them.

  Thereby, in the head unit 51 in which the nozzle surface 66a is inclined, as shown in FIG. 21, the wiper 117 wipes the nozzle surface 66a from the lower side to the upper side along the inclination direction of the nozzle surface 66a. Do. Thereby, the wiper 117 wipes the nozzle surface 66a while pushing up the ink 96 from the lower side to the upper side of the nozzle surface 66a.

  When the wiper 117 passes through the nozzle surface 66a to be wiped, the printing apparatus control unit 23 stops the wiper units 112A and 112B.

  Thereafter, the printing apparatus control unit 23 controls the lift motor 57 to raise the print bar 56 to a predetermined height above the standby position. As a result, the nozzle surface 66 a is at a position higher than the upper end of the wiper 117.

  Next, the printing apparatus control unit 23 controls the wiper driving unit 113 to return the wiper units 112A and 112B to the position before wiping.

  Then, the printing apparatus control unit 23 controls the lift motor 57 to lower the print bar 56 to the standby height position. Thus, the operation at the time of maintenance of the inkjet head 66 is completed.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, the wiper 117 wipes the nozzle surface 66a from the lower side to the upper side in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface 66a. Thereby, the wiper 117 wipes the nozzle surface 66a while pushing up the ink from the lower side to the upper side of the nozzle surface 66a. Therefore, it is possible to reduce wiping of the nozzle surface 66a in a state where there is no ink acting as a lubricant between the nozzle surface 66a and the wiper 117 on the upper side in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface 66a. As a result, deterioration of the ink repellent film on the nozzle surface 66 a of the ink jet head 66 can be reduced.

Fourth Embodiment
Next, a fourth embodiment in which the head unit of the first embodiment described above is modified will be described. FIG. 22 is a front view of the head unit according to the fourth embodiment during standby. FIG. 23 is a front view at the time of printing of the head unit in the fourth embodiment.

  As shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, the head unit 51A in the fourth embodiment has a configuration in which the base portion 58 is replaced with a base portion 58A in the head unit 51 of the first embodiment described above.

  Further, in the head unit 51A, as shown in FIG. 22, the maintenance portion 60 is provided so that the bottom plate 76a is horizontal. Further, in the maintenance section 60 of the head unit 51A, the wiper 82 is attached to the wiper mount 81 so as to be parallel to the left-right direction.

  The base portion 58A supports the supported portion 69 to position the print bar 56 in the standby position so that the nozzle surface 66a is horizontal. Thus, in the fourth embodiment, even in the head unit 51A in which the nozzle surface 66a is inclined when the print bar 56 is in the printing position, the nozzle surface 66a is horizontal when the print bar 56 is in the standby position.

  That is, in the printing unit 22, the inkjet heads 66 of the four head units 51A other than the central head unit 51A are set such that the nozzle surface 66a is inclined with respect to the horizontal surface at the time of printing, and the nozzle surface 66a is horizontal at the time of maintenance Set to state.

  The base portion 58A is configured to be retractable from the elevating track of the print bar 56 by pivoting about the pivot shaft 58a.

  Here, FIGS. 22 and 23 are front views of the head unit 51A in which the nozzle surface 66a is inclined downward to the left at the time of printing. Although not shown, the print bar 56 is supported at the standby position so that the nozzle surface 66a is horizontal during standby even in the head unit 51A in which the nozzle surface 66a inclines downward to the right during printing.

  In the fourth embodiment, when maintenance of the ink jet head 66 is started, as shown in FIG. 22, the print bar 56 is disposed at the standby position, and the nozzle surface 66a is set in a horizontal state. Further, the maintenance unit 60 is disposed at the deployed position.

  In this state, the printing apparatus control unit 23 executes a purge to deposit the ink on the nozzle surface 66a. Since the nozzle surface 66a is not inclined, the state in which the droplet-like ink adheres along the nozzle row 71 on the nozzle surface 66a is maintained.

  When the purge is completed, the printing apparatus control unit 23 controls the moving motor 61 to move the maintenance unit 60 from the deployed position to the retracted position. During this movement, as shown in FIG. 24, the wiper 82 wipes the nozzle surface 66a on which the ink 96 has been deposited.

  As described above, in the fourth embodiment, in the head unit 51A in which the nozzle surface 66a is set to be inclined during printing, the nozzle surface 66a is set to be horizontal during maintenance. Then, the printing apparatus control unit 23 causes ink to adhere to the nozzle surface 66a by purge in a state where the nozzle surface 66a is horizontal, and controls the wiper 82 to wipe the nozzle surface 66a to which the ink is attached. For this reason, the nozzle surface 66a is in a state where there is no ink between the nozzle surface 66a and the wiper on the upper side in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface 66a, which occurs when purging and wiping while the nozzle surface 66a is inclined. It is possible to avoid being wiped. As a result, deterioration of the ink repellent film on the nozzle surface 66 a of the ink jet head 66 can be reduced.

  In the above description, the wiper 82 wipes the nozzle surface 66 a in the direction (front-rear direction) parallel to the nozzle row 71, but the wiping direction is not limited to this. For example, the wiper may wipe in a direction (left and right direction) orthogonal to the nozzle row 71.

Other Embodiments
As described above, although the present invention has been described by the first to fourth embodiments, it should not be understood that the statements and drawings that form a part of this disclosure limit the present invention. Various alternative embodiments, examples and operation techniques will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

  In the first to fourth embodiments described above, the unwinding device and the winding device are shown as separate devices connected to the inkjet printing device, but the inkjet printing device has the unwinding portion and the winding portion incorporated therein. It may be a configuration.

  In the first to fourth embodiments described above, the inkjet head 66 is described as having the two nozzle rows 71, but the number of nozzle rows of the inkjet head is not limited to this.

  Thus, it is a matter of course that the present invention includes various embodiments and the like which are not described herein. Accordingly, the technical scope of the present invention is defined only by the invention-specifying matters according to the scope of claims appropriate from the above description.

[Supplementary note]
The present application discloses the following invention.

(Supplementary Note 1)
An ink jet head having a plurality of nozzles for discharging ink, and a nozzle surface having an opening and an ink repellent film formed on the nozzle, wherein the nozzle surface is inclined with respect to a horizontal surface;
Purge means for discharging ink from the nozzle of the ink jet head and depositing the ink on the nozzle surface;
A wiper which wipes the nozzle surface to which the ink discharged from the nozzle by the purge means adheres in a wipe direction orthogonal to the inclination direction of the nozzle surface;
At least a portion of the wiper, including the end of the wiper on the lower side in the inclination direction, inclines or curves toward the downstream side of the wipe direction toward the lower side in the inclination direction, and is attached to the nozzle surface An ink jet printing apparatus, comprising: an ink push-up wipe portion that wipes the nozzle surface while pushing up from the lower side of the inclined direction to the upper side.

(Supplementary Note 2)
The inkjet printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: adjustment means for adjusting the orientation of the wiper with respect to the wipe direction according to the temperature of the ink supplied to the inkjet head.

(Supplementary Note 3)
An ink jet head having a plurality of nozzles for discharging ink, and a nozzle surface having an opening and an ink repellent film formed on the nozzle, wherein the nozzle surface is inclined with respect to a horizontal surface;
Purge means for discharging ink from the nozzle of the ink jet head and depositing the ink on the nozzle surface;
An ink jet printing apparatus, comprising: a wiper which wipes the nozzle surface, to which the ink discharged from the nozzle by the purge means adheres, from the lower side to the upper side in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface.

(Supplementary Note 4)
The ink jet printing apparatus according to any one of appendices 1 to 3, wherein an amount of ink discharged from the nozzle is adjusted by the purge unit according to an inclination angle of the nozzle surface.

(Supplementary Note 5)
The nozzle surface has a plurality of nozzles for discharging ink and a nozzle surface having an opening and an ink repellent film formed thereon, and the nozzle surface is set to be inclined with respect to a horizontal surface at the time of printing, and at the time of maintenance An ink jet head set to a horizontal state,
Purge means for discharging ink from the nozzles of the ink jet head whose nozzle surface is set to be horizontal and for depositing the ink on the nozzle surface;
An inkjet printing apparatus, comprising: a wiper which wipes the nozzle surface to which the ink discharged from the nozzle by the purge means is attached, of the inkjet head in which the nozzle surface is set to be horizontal.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 printing system 2 unwinding apparatus 3 inkjet printing apparatus 4 winding-up apparatus 21 conveyance part 22, 2 printing apparatus control part 2A, 22B printing part 23
51, 51A head unit 52 ink circulation mechanism 53 ink temperature sensor 56 print bar 58, 58A base 60, 60A, 60B maintenance 66 inkjet head 66a nozzle surface 72 nozzle 82, 82A, 82B, 117 wiper 101 adjustment motor

Claims (5)

An ink jet head having a plurality of nozzles for discharging ink, and a nozzle surface having an opening and an ink repellent film formed on the nozzle, wherein the nozzle surface is inclined with respect to a horizontal surface;
Purge means for discharging ink from the nozzle of the ink jet head and depositing the ink on the nozzle surface;
A wiper which wipes the nozzle surface to which the ink discharged from the nozzle by the purge means adheres in a wipe direction orthogonal to the inclination direction of the nozzle surface;
At least a portion of the wiper, including the end of the wiper on the lower side in the inclination direction, inclines or curves toward the downstream side of the wipe direction toward the lower side in the inclination direction, and is attached to the nozzle surface An ink jet printing apparatus, comprising: an ink push-up wipe portion that wipes the nozzle surface while pushing up from the lower side of the inclined direction to the upper side.   The inkjet printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an adjustment unit configured to adjust the orientation of the wiper with respect to the wipe direction according to the temperature of the ink supplied to the inkjet head. An ink jet head having a plurality of nozzles for discharging ink, and a nozzle surface having an opening and an ink repellent film formed on the nozzle, wherein the nozzle surface is inclined with respect to a horizontal surface;
Purge means for discharging ink from the nozzle of the ink jet head and depositing the ink on the nozzle surface;
An ink jet printing apparatus, comprising: a wiper which wipes the nozzle surface, to which the ink discharged from the nozzle by the purge means adheres, from the lower side to the upper side in the inclination direction of the nozzle surface.   The ink jet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the amount of ink to be discharged from the nozzle is adjusted by the purge unit according to the inclination angle of the nozzle surface. The nozzle surface has a plurality of nozzles for discharging ink and a nozzle surface having an opening and an ink repellent film formed thereon, and the nozzle surface is set to be inclined with respect to a horizontal surface at the time of printing, and at the time of maintenance An ink jet head set to a horizontal state,
Purge means for discharging ink from the nozzles of the ink jet head whose nozzle surface is set to be horizontal and for depositing the ink on the nozzle surface;
An inkjet printing apparatus, comprising: a wiper which wipes the nozzle surface to which the ink discharged from the nozzle by the purge means is attached, of the inkjet head in which the nozzle surface is set to be horizontal.